duke a full release of all his claims upon the province. This deed was dated the 20th of August, 1682. He also obtained in the same year, by two separate deeds from the duke, a grant of the tract on the Delaware river and bay, commonly termed the three lower counties, now the State of Delaware. This grant was obtained to secure the free use of the river, and to prevent the trouble which might probably arise from the access to the province being in the possession of another.

XIII.

WILLIAM PENN having completed his preparations

for a voyage to America, went, in the Sixth month of this year, 1682, on board the ship Welcome, of three hundred tons, Robert Greenaway commander; and on the 30th of the month addressed a valedictory epistle to his friends in England. He also wrote the following letter to Stephen Crisp, a valuable minister of the Gospel in his own religious society.

"DEAR STEPHEN CRISP:-My dear and lasting love in the Lord's everlasting Truth reaches to thee, with whom is my fellowship in the Gospel of peace that is more dear and precious to my soul than all the treasures and pleasures of this world; for when a few years are passed we shall all go the way whence we shall never return; and that we may unweariedly serve the Lord in our day and place, and in the end enjoy a portion with the blessed that are at rest, is the breathing of my soul!

"Stephen! we know one another and I need not say much to thee; but this I will say, thy parting dwells with me, or rather, thy love at my parting. How innocent, how tender, how like the little child that has no guile! The Lord will bless that ground (Pennsylvania). I have also a letter from thee which comforted me; for many are my trials, yet not more than my supplies from my heavenly

Father, whose glory I seek, and the renown of his blessed name. And truly, Stephen, there is work enough, and here is room to work in. Surely God will come in for a share in this planting-work, and that leaven shall leaven the lump in time. I do not believe the Lord's providence had run this way towards me, but that he has an heavenly end and service in it; so with Him I leave all, and myself, and thee, and his dear people, and blessed name on earth. "God Almighty, immortal and eternal, be with us, that in the body and out of the body we may be his forever! "I am, in the ancient dear fellowship,

"Thy faithful friend and brother,

WILLIAM PENN."

As this voyage and residence in America were likely to keep him separated from his family during a considerable time, he left behind him a letter addressed to his wife and children, valuable for its wisdom as well as beautiful for its simplicity and patriarchal spirit.

"MY DEAR WIFE AND CHILDREN:-My love, which neither sea nor land nor death itself can extinguish or lessen toward you, most endearly visits you with eternal embraces, and will abide with you forever; and may the God of my life watch over you and bless you, and do you good in this world and forever! Some things are upon my spirit to leave with you in your respective capacities, as I am to the one a husband and to the rest a father, if I should never see you more in this world.

My dear wife, remember thou wast the love of my youth, and much the joy of my life; the most beloved as

well as most worthy of all my earthly comforts; and the reason of that love was more thy inward than thy outward excellencies, which yet were many. God knows, and thou knowest it, I can say it was a match of Providence's making; and God's image in us both was the first thing, and the most amiable and engaging ornament in our eyes. Now I am to leave thee, and that without knowing whether I shall ever see thee more in this world; take my counsel into thy bosom and let it dwell with thee in my stead while thou livest.

"First: Let the fear of the Lord and a zeal and love to his glory dwell richly in thy heart; and thou wilt watch for good over thyself and thy dear children and family, that no rude, light, or bad thing be committed; else God will be offended, and He will repent himself of the good He intends thee and thine.

Secondly: Be diligent in meetings for worship and business; stir up thyself and others herein; it is thy duty and place; and let meetings be kept once a day in the family to wait upon the Lord who has given us much time for ourselves. And, my dearest, to make thy family matters easy to thee, divide thy time and be regular; it is easy and sweet; thy retirement will afford thee to do it; as in the morning to view the business of the house and fix it as thou desirest, seeing all be in order; that by thy counsel all may move, and to thee render an account every evening. The time for work, for walking, for meals, may be certain at least as near as may be; and grieve not thyself with careless servants; they will disorder thee; rather pay them and let them go if they will not be better

by admonitions; this is best to avoid many words, which I know wound the soul and offend the Lord.

"Thirdly: Cast up thy income and see what it daily amounts to; by which thou mayest be sure to have it in thy sight and power to keep within compass; and I beseech thee to live low and sparingly till my debts are paid; and then enlarge as thou seest it convenient. Remember thy mother's example when thy father's public-spiritedness had worsted his estate, which is my case. I know thou lovest plain things, and art averse to the pomps of the world-a nobility natural to thee. I write not as doubtful, but to quicken thee, for my sake, to be vigilant herein, knowing that God will bless thy care, and thy poor children and thee for it. My mind is wrapt up in a saying of thy father's, I desire not riches, but to owe nothing;' and truly that is wealth; and more than enough to live is a snare attended with many sorrows. I need not bid thee

be humble, for thou art so; nor meek and patient, for it is much of thy natural disposition; but I pray thee be oft in retirement with the Lord, and guard against encroaching friendships. Keep them at arm's end; for it is giving away our power, aye, and self too, into the possession of another; and that which might seem engaging in the beginning may prove a yoke and burden too hard and heavy in the end. Wherefore, keep dominion over thyself; and let thy children, good meetings, and Friends be the pleasure of thy life.

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Fourthly: And now, my dearest, let me recommend to thy care my dear children; abundantly beloved of me as the Lord's blessings, and the sweet pledges of our mutual and endeared affection. Above all things endeavor